He had earlier said a system of incentives, rewards and sanctions would be built into contracts by 2016-17 to encourage hospitals to follow the new standards.

Breaches could cost hospitals up to 2.5% of their annual income of up to £500m, and they could face losing their right to use junior doctors.

Sir Bruce told the Marr show the changes would cost about 1.5-2% of the annual running costs of the hospital and said he was confident about finding money from other parts of the NHS to pay for the plans.

More consultants working weekends would stop inappropriate admissions and diagnoses would be speeded up, in turn helping hospitals run more efficiently financially, he said.

“We believe the arguments for this are absolutely compelling both clinically and morally,” he said.

‘Calendar lottery’

Dean Royles, of NHS Employers, which represents hospitals, told BBC Breakfast the review “seals the deal” on the case for seven-day working.

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Our lives and health are totally dependent upon this vital service”

End QuotePatients Association

Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the British Medical Association Council, backed the changes, saying “there should be no calendar lottery when it comes to patient care”.

He said the BMA was in negotiations with NHS Employers and the government to find an “affordable, practical model for delivering this care” while safeguarding doctors’ work-life balance.

But Prof Chris Ham, of health think tank the Kings Fund, said there were concerns over funding because many hospitals were already struggling and financial pressures would only grow.

The Patients Association said: “Our lives and health are totally dependent upon this vital service and we look forward to its implementation with the least possible delay.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has commended the move, while shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the government needed to clearly set out how it will be paid for.

The Welsh government has not ruled out seven-day working, while the Scottish administration has committed to having consultants in wards seven days a week.

A review in Northern Ireland earlier this year found disparities in out-of-hours hospital care, compared to weekdays, and said specialist consultant ward rounds and formal weekend handovers were needed.